Truss



No. 624,902. Patented May l6, I899. A. BOLLINGER.

TRUSS.

(Application filed Jan. 30, 1899.)

(No Model.)

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NI'IED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ALBERT BOLL IN GER, OF NEWVARK, NEW JERSEY.

TRUSS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent NO. 624,902,-dated May 16, 1899.

Application filed January 30,1899. Serial No. 703,767. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALBERT BOLLINGER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Newark, in the county of Essex and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Trusses; andI doherebydeclare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art.to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being bad to the accompanying drawings, and to letters of reference marked thereon, which form part of this specification.

The object of this invention is to provide a truss which will be more comfortable to the wearer, one that will be less liable to produce soreness because of abrasion, and to secure other advantages and results, some of which may be referred to in connection with the description of the working parts.

The invention consists in the improved truss and in the arrangements and combinations of parts of the same, all substantially as will be hereinafter set forth and finally embraced in the clauses of the claim.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, in which like letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in each of the several views, Figure 1 is a perspective View of a truss having my improvements. Fig. 2 is an elevation, on an enlarged scale, of a pressure-head adapted to engage the body to support the affected parts. Fig. 3 is a section taken at line 00,

Fig. 2; and Fig. 4 is a plan of an elastic ball or cushion adapted to be employed in said pressure-head.

In said drawings, a indicates the body of the truss, adapted to encircle the body of the wearer in any ordinary manner. Said truss may comprise a belt-like spring-steel strap covered with leather or other covering and provided with a more flexible end strap a and catching means a by which the said belt-like body is secured irv'place upon the wearer, and having and adjustable head I), which projects inward from the inner face of said belt-like body, as indicated in Fig. 1, to press against the body of the wearer at the affected or abnormal part.

The head 1) comprises a block d, of hard rubber or other suitable material, which is centrally chambered or perforated and in general outward appearance is shaped in resemblance to a truncated cone, the small end of which lies inward to engage the body of the wearer and the large end or base lies outward toward or against the inner side of the belt-like body a. Within the chamber d of the block is arranged apressure-piece e, also of hard rubber or the like. At the inner end of the block (1, fitting the walls of the chamber d, is inserted the pressure-piece e, the said walls providing a limited slideway for the said pressure-piece. The inner end of the pressure-piece eis flanged, as at e, and the walls of the block cl are provided with a stop (1 adapted to limit the movement of said pressure-piece.

At the larger side of the block (1 the same is provided with a metal plate f, closing the end of the chamber toward the base of the block, the said plate providing means of attachment of the head b to the belt. Between the said plate f and the pressure-piece a hollow ball g, of soft rubber, is interposed, which tends to press. the pressure-piece forward against the stop C1 The said ball is perfo rated, and the perforation g, more or less closely coincides with a perforation e in the pressure-piece, which exten ds out through the surface lying against the wearer. The elastic ball thus not only acts as a cushion, but serves to pump to keep a circulation of air at the point of contact, so that there is less chance of the perspiration lying unevaporated. The said plate may be secured upon the block by screws h or by other suitable means.

The means for attachment to the belt preferably comprises a screw 2', the threaded shank of which passes through one of a series of perforations j in the strap-like body and thence into a threaded hole at the center of the plate. The head of the screw holds the said strap-like body firmly against the plate, while the screw permits an adjustment of the head with facility and ease.

While I have employed positive terms in describing my invention, I am aware that changes may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention, and I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself by such positive descriptive expressions ex Having thus described the invention, What I claim as new is 1. In a truss, the combination With the strap-like body of the chambered head 1), comprising the block d, pressure-piece and an elastic ball 9, arranged in the chamber of the head against the inner side of said pressurepiece, substantially as set forth.

2. In a truss, the combination with the strap a, of the head b, having a pressure-piece, e, movable in said block and having a perforation e, and a perforated ball, substantially as set forth.

3. The improved truss comprising the straplike body a, and a head b, the latter consisting of a chambered block shaped in resemblance to a truncated cone and having at its base side a plate f, and at its smaller end a pressure-piece, a cushion interposed between said plate and pressure-piece and a fasten ing-screw, said parts being arranged and combined substantially as set forth.

4:. The improved truss,comprising the strap January 1899.

ALBERT BOLLINGER. Witnesses:

CHARLES H. PELL, O. B. PITNEY. 

